The funds go to support the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association's (WCMA) industry education and scholarship programs, as well as the World and U.S. Championship Cheese Contests and university dairy training centers.

“This year’s record-breaking auction reflects the generosity and forward thinking of the dairy processing industry,” said WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer.

“We’re grateful to this year’s bidders and honored to provide opportunities for the growth and advancement of the industry’s most valuable asset: its people.”

Since 1997, auction dollars have supported WCMA’s Mike Dean and Cheese Industry Supplier Student Scholarships, helped fund popular WCMA training workshops and fueled donations to infrastructure projects at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, University of Wisconsin – River Falls and South Dakota State University.

Altogether, WCMA said it has invested $1.3 million in the next generation of the dairy processing industry.

This year’s auction featured a total of 86 gold medal cheeses from the 2022 World Championship Cheese Contest, organized into 41 lots.